I defy anyone to find me a lyricist who is more well read and has more intelligent and thought provoking lyrics than Peart. Can't do it because it can't be done. The guy has read about a book day for the past fifty years.

From a "prog" standpoint, I would suggest Ian Anderson and Peter Gabriel are far better. Peter Sinfield is quite accomplished as well. I would consider any one of the three as poets, as opposed to Peart as just a lyricist with an occasional hard-on for Ayn Rand.

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destinedto take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

Geddy Lee is an amazing vocalist. Some of the high notes he hits (even in the last tour) can only otherwise be reached by professional opera singers. Perhaps an acquired taste, but that is true of so much of progressive rock. I find some of Peart's earlier lyrics to be iffy, but many later tunes have really thoughtful lyrics.

One has to start somewhere, and everyone hears things a bit differently. The more music the merrier.

I defy anyone to find me a lyricist who is more well read and has more intelligent and thought provoking lyrics than†Peart. Can't do it because it can't be done.††The guy has read about a book day for the past fifty years.†

From a "prog" standpoint, I would suggest Ian Anderson and Peter Gabriel are far better. Peter Sinfield is quite accomplished as well. I would consider any one of the three as poets, as opposed to Peart as just a lyricist with an occasional hard-on for Ayn Rand.

Neil doesn't have a hard on for Ayn Rand. In fact he is past that time in his life. He knows better now.

For what itís worth ; I was digging Prog ( usual suspects - Genesis, Yes, Floyd.....). ......long story short - I acquired a VHS which had Rush live (late 70ís, Xanadu and The Trees...) and I was BLOWN AWAY !! Iím not sure the general consensus of the O.P. is 100% kosher, but then, Iím a nobody. Who cares ??

I defy anyone to find me a lyricist who is more well read and has more intelligent and thought provoking lyrics than Peart. Can't do it because it can't be done. The guy has read about a book day for the past fifty years.

From a "prog" standpoint, I would suggest Ian Anderson and Peter Gabriel are far better. Peter Sinfield is quite accomplished as well. I would consider any one of the three as poets, as opposed to Peart as just a lyricist with an occasional hard-on for Ayn Rand.

How come no one ever picks a modern band for those new to prog? It's always the old guys whose time has long passed. We need to show that progressive rock is alive and kicking, right here right now!

I guess it depends on how new. I would think most people, even these days, would find out about prog through the older bands. I would guess someone even hears about Rush or Pink Floyd before they hear about Porcupine Tree or Dream Theater but I suppose it just depends. I think usually the classic bands are recommended to give an idea of what the genre is all about. Also, imo, it wouldn't make sense to tell someone to listen to Spock's Beard or the Flower Kings before hearing the bands that influenced them such as Yes or Genesis. It also wouldn't make sense to tell someone to listen to Porcupine Tree before they heard Pink Floyd or the other classic prog bands but again that's just my opinion. None of this is written in stone. I'm sure there are a lot of younger prog fans who heard a lot of prog metal bands and PT and other modern bands before they even heard classic prog and I bet some of them still haven't heard any classic prog and have no interest in them. Their loss.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - April 16 2018 at 09:33

When you list all the qualities that you despise and you realize you're describing yourself.

How come no one ever picks a modern band for those new to prog? It's always the old guys whose time has long passed. We need to show that progressive rock is alive and kicking, right here right now!

I for one, didn't even know what prog rock was until I first heard to Pink Floyd and then King Crimson. Newer progressive rock bands, while they may be quite good, just don't have that success and status that classic 70s had. For every new fan of prog, I say listen to a lot of bands simultaneously--classic or modern--so as to find their preferred sound. They may then expand into more obscure stuff at their own pace.

I myself am also quite a new prog rock fan. I'd been a Pink Floyd fan for quite some time before delving deep into pure prog almost a year ago. I still have yet to fully listen to classic bands, but have been keeping tabs with modern bands as well (Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Steven Wilson, Wobbler, The Flower Kings, Plini, etc).

I say leave them to explore the genre themselves using internet rankings and lists.

"All the iron turned to rust;All the proud men turned to dustAnd so all things, time will mendSo this song will end"

Rush were one of the first bands I saw Live in 1978 (I saw Genesis in 1977) that's 40 years ago! Mind u they did nothing of note after 1980...like Genesis who did nothing after 1977... there is a theme here!

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